Harriet Carr

Harriet Carr (September 1771 – 5 August 1848), also known by her married name Harriet Cheney, was a British artist in the late 18th century until her death. She was noted for her watercolours of landscapes and also gained recognition as a portrait painter.

Early life Harriet Carr was born in Durham in September 1771. Her parents were Isabella Byrne and Ralph Carr who was a merchant and banker. She was the youngest of five children. They lived at Dunston Hill Hall on the outskirts of Gateshead.

The Carr family were a rich family and as well as being landowners, Ralph Carr had built up various interests including ship-owning, underwriting, banking, coal mining and imports and exports of goods to Europe and America. It has been noted that the Carr properties and wealth had given the Carrs 'a claim to gentry as well as merchant status'. Little is recorded of family life though it is noted that her father commented about her as one of my richest jewels '.

There is no evidence of her early art education but it has been stated that she received lessons from John 'Warwick' Smith, a British watercolour landscape artist, 'before her marriage. The picture of the sculptor Anne Seymour Damer was painted by Harriet Carr in 1788 when she was in her teens. The painting is in the collection of The National Galleries of Scotland.

While in Italy Harriet developed her art skills. It has been suggested that Harriet received lessons in watercolour painting from John "Warwick" Smith and that while in Italy this had enhanced her skills in portrait and landscape painting. Some doubt has been placed on this in a recent book, Art Treasures in the North, Northern Families on the Grand Tour by Anne French, where it was noted ".....there is no evidence to support their association". The same source does mention that in 1793 Harriet received four lessons in perspective from a Jacobin artist who had fled to Florence. Despite the uncertainty about her tutors, her skill was commented upon when she returned to England – she is mentioned in The Diary of Joseph Farington.

A modern author noted that the Carrs 'must be numbered among the élite of tourists who had strong intellectual and cultural interests together with a genuine desire to gain experience of foreign societies. Harriet married Colonel Robert Cheney in 1799. He later became Lieutenant-General Robert Cheney of Badger Hall, Shropshire. The Cheney London residence was at 4 Audley Square, Mayfair. The Cheneys were a cultured family, more interested in collecting and practising art than in fox-hunting and shooting. Their artistic talent was fostered by Harriet Cheney. Harriet continued painting and her known works include portraits, landscapes, flower studies and classical illustrations. Joseph Farrington noted in 1804 that she was much attached to painting '. She also added embellishments to the decor of Badger Hall.

Harriet died in 1848 and was buried at Badger. She and her younger daughter Harriet have neo-classical monuments in Badger church by John Gibson RA.